| Fan Fiction |
by DTLCT
Ray *shakes his head & smiles*: Sometimes I wonder if I should be the one pulling the surprises or you.
Girl *shrugging*: It runs in the family.
Ray steps forward and pulls the girl into a hug.
Ray *still holding her in his arms*: I want to do this for a long time now. Just to see how it feels. *letting go & steps back* And it does feel good to let everything go.
Girl: Does that mean you’re not mad at me for giving you that scar?
Ray: I’m a guy, sis. I don’t care about scars.
Mandy *smiles*: Want to go upstairs? Dad’s still around.
Ray: Sure, why not? Let’s give him a hard time.
The two siblings head toward the elevators and make their way up to the 7th floor. When they’re inside the elevator, Mandy gives Ray a strange look.
Ray: What?
Mandy *shrugging her shoulders*: It’s weird, you know. I meant we’d been acting so hectic and having all these uneasy feelings and suddenly we’re just hugging and getting along.
Ray: Want me to pinch you to make sure we’re not dreaming?
Mandy: Ray!
Ray *smiles*: Sorry. Can’t help it. *turns serious again* But when we were talking before, I realized something.
Mandy waits in silence for him to continue.
Ray: I realized that nothing matters anymore. I meant the whole conflict with our mothers. I mean we’re all grown up now and the fact that we’re still alive and having a decent job. I mean, how can I be so selfish to hold on to this grudge just because Mom hates Lily? *looks at Mandy* Sorry, I’m so used to calling her Lily that I can’t call her Ms. Chan or Auntie.
Mandy: It’s ok.
Ray: Anyways, let’s go up there and give old Daddy a hard time.
Mandy *smiles*: You can’t be serious for 15 minutes, huh?
Ray *smiles back*: I’m trying to make light of the situation here.
Mandy: I understand.
They stay silent for the rest of the way. The ding of the elevator tenses their nerves up a bit. They both take a deep breath and sigh out before stepping out and walking down the hallway. It’s only a two to three minute walk, but it seems like forever to them. Finally they reach the door to Kevin and Ray’s apartment. Ray raises his right hand up to knock on the door since he forgot to bring his own keys this morning. Before he actually knocks, he turns to look at Mandy.
Ray: Ready?
Mandy knocks on the door with her right hand before Ray could do it.
They hear someone making his or her way to the door.
Kevin opens the door to see them standing there side by side.
Kevin: Got it all work out?
Ray & Mandy: You bet!
They siblings utter a laugh at the same time.
Kevin *smiling*: I take it that you guys are getting along now.
Ray *turns serious again*: Is Dad still here?
Kevin: Mr. Cho?
Ray: No, Mr. Cheng.
Kevin: Yea.
Ray grabs Mandy’s hand and enters into the living room. Kevin closes the door and joins them. Ray stands in the middle of the group who’s sitting around the coffee table.
Ray: Daniel Cho, the game’s over. Either you answer me honestly or your birthday wish goes out the window.
Mr. Cho stands up to and makes his way toward them.
Ray: Answer me right in front of all these people. I don’t like side line talks.
Mr. Cho: What do you want to know?
Ray: Why did you lie to both Mom and Lily?
Mr. Cho: What?!?!
Ray: Let’s cut through the chase. We already know that you’re our father.
Mr. Cho: Ray, I…
Ray: Answer the question.
Mr. Cho *looks down*: I was young. I was greedy. I….
Ray: Can you come up with something better than that? Like Lily was your high school sweetheart or she was your wife before you met Mom? And you thought she died so you re-married?
Kevin: Ray, don’t be so hard on him.
Ray: I’m being hard on him? He was the one that gave me this scar *finally letting go of Mandy’s hand & pointing to the scar on his left neck* here. I have the right to ask, you know.
Charmaine: Ray…
Ray: I never blame Mandy or Lily because I know it wasn’t their fault. If they were at fault, would they leave after knowing that you already have a family?
Mr. Cho couldn’t say anything. He just looks down toward the floor in shame.
Ray: I wasn’t going to confront you like this. But you disappointed me. Remember that day how you told us last week in your garden that you would say sorry to your son and daughter and ask for their forgiveness when you find them? Where’s your courage? Why are you looking down like that? Why can’t you at least say ‘sorry’?
Mr. Cho *finally looking up*: Ray, I’m sorry.
Ray: Why are you saying it now after I told you to? Why can’t you just say it before?
Mandy *puts a hand on Ray’s shoulder*: I thought you said that…
Ray *turns to face Mandy*: He’s acting like a coward. Can’t even face the consequences he was talking about last week. How can I let it go?
Mandy: You forgave me. You can forgive him too.
Ray: That’s different. We’re both victims. He’s the creator of all these problems.
Mandy: My mother’s dead, Ray. I still can forgive him, why can’t you?
Mr. Cho & Ray: What?!?!
Mr. Cho sways a bit at that time. Kevin and Charmaine move quickly to his sides to steady him.
Ray *turns toward Mandy*: Lily’s dead?
Mandy: Why do you think that I’m living with Charm now?
Ray: I just thought you want to go out on your own for a while, like what I’m doing.
Mr. Cho: When did Lily….
He couldn’t finish the question.
Mandy: Two years ago.
Mr. Cho goes into silence. Kevin and Charmaine help him sit down on the sofa again.
The living room becomes silent while Mr. Cho and Ray are letting the information sink in for them.
Mandy *breaking the silence*: We don’t have to argue anymore. It doesn’t matter anyways. You told me yourself, Ray. What passed has passed. Let it be.
Ray: I…I can’t. I have to know why. I mean Lily would want to know why too. At least, we can give her some closure although she’s in Heaven now.
Mr. Cho *clearing his throat*: I want you both to know that both of your mothers are very special. They each have a unique personality that moved me. I never thought of hurting any one of them. But in the end...I did. Yes, I’m greedy. I didn’t want to let Lily go and marry this lawyer. If she married him, she would have been living a happy life instead of the grief.
Mandy: Dad, it’s over. Let’s not talk about it anymore.
Although Mandy’s trying to stay calm but her voice is breaking.
Ray pats her shoulder to comfort her.
Mr. Cho: What did you just called me?
Ray: She called you Dad and I’m going to too, ok? Let’s not get all mushy now. We need to go somewhere for fresh air.
Mr. Cho: Ray, I….
Ray *looking at Mr. Cho with a serious expression*: I’m only doing this for Mandy.
Mr. Cho doesn’t know what to say, but just smiles.
Kevin: Alright. Let’s go out somewhere and celebrate this reunion, eh?
Charmaine *smiling*: Yes. Let’s go.
Ray: Let’s go to Yin Yang’s.
Charmaine: Yin Yang’s?
Ray: It’s the little restaurant by the seaside. Kevin and I used to go there a lot. I just went there this morning. It’s nice there.
Mr. Cho: That’s nice.
Before anything else could happen - like people changing their minds about the whole idea - Kevin goes to the door and holds it open for everyone to walk out. The whole group heads toward the elevators. They decide to take Charmaine’s car to avoid from drawing too much attention.
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A special thanks for Kaylyn for the compliments. And yes, it IS confusing because it's intentional. I like to build the characters slowly and might keep some stuffs a secret for now but will be reveal later.